Cemetery Road Climb

We don't rate roads as safe or unsafe: crash counts can't say how risky a ride is, and roads people like to ride draw more riders, so they see more crashes. What the records show: no bike crashes were reported along the climb from 2021–2025.

How long and steep is the Cemetery Road climb?

4.3 miles (6.9 km) at 5% on average, climbing 1,135 ft (346 m) from 1,224 ft to 2,359 ft. The steepest half kilometre averages 16.8%. That makes it a Category 2 climb.

Where does the climb start and finish?

It starts at 40.32912, -123.67037, where Cemetery Road leaves Alderpoint Road, and tops out on the road at 40.33031, -123.72065.

Is Cemetery Road paved?

Yes, by its OpenStreetMap tags.

How is the category worked out?

From the climb's shape only: length in metres × average grade (%) of 16,000 or more for Cat 3, 32,000 for Cat 2, 64,000 for Cat 1 and 80,000 for HC. It describes how hard the climb is, not traffic or crashes.

Where does this data come from?

The climb is found from OpenStreetMap roads and USGS 3DEP elevation (every climb, not a list of famous ones). Access is from OpenStreetMap tags; gates and closures change, so obey posted signs. Crash counts are police reports in the California Crash Reporting System (CCRS) on data.ca.gov, counted where their map location is within 100 ft of the climb. The forecast is from the National Weather Service.

• Sunset Ridge RoadCat 3 · 4.1 mi at 4.1% · 886 ft · starts 2.9 mi away
• Sunset Ridge RoadCat 2 · 3.7 mi at 6.9% · 1,342 ft · starts 3.5 mi away
• Eel Rock Road from Nunniemaker RoadCat 2 · 4.1 mi at 8.1% · 1,749 ft · starts 4.4 mi away
• Alderpoint Road near Rio DellCat 3 · 3.6 mi at 3.5% · 682 ft · starts 4.8 mi away
• Windbigler Ranch RoadCat 1 · 3.9 mi at 12.1% · 2,493 ft · starts 5.1 mi away
• Eel Rock Road from Old Eel Rock RoadCat 3 · 1.4 mi at 9.9% · 751 ft · starts 5.9 mi away
• Burr Valley RoadCat 2 · 3.4 mi at 6.9% · 1,247 ft · starts 6.1 mi away
• Pine Mountain LaneCat 2 · 3.9 mi at 9.7% · 2,005 ft · starts 6.4 mi away